Please Help-No Ground To Nav Light

[RWS]

Basic problem here, just don't know the best way to start.

The white nav light on the transom is getting power when the switch is turned on, however there is no ground to complete the circuit.

The easy fix would be to simply pick up another ground from somewhere nearby, like the bonding system, however I prefer to handle this the right way.

Your comments are appreciated.

RWS

[Diverted Income]

How about chasing the original ground wire from the light back to the DC panel? Seems you would find it broke at point along the way. Prove the ground is indeed missing by jumpering it to ground to see if it works.

[Big D]

....getting power when the switch is turned on, however there is no ground to complete the circuit.....

Not following or maybe I'm just over thinking it but if there is no ground, how are you geting power to the light. Or is it that you have power to the switch but not making it to the light? You did a continuity test of the ground at the light?

....The easy fix would be to simply pick up another ground from somewhere nearby, like the bonding system....

NO, keep the bonding circuit and device DC grounding separate. They do connect electrically but you shouldn't use bonding points for DC grounds. You'll just have to be a contorsionist for a while and do it the hard way.

[RWS]

with the nav lights turned ON running a jumper wire from the negative post of the light to the swim platform brackets (bonded) completes the circuit and the light is lit.

RWS

[Big D]

I usually spend some time tracing a break/problem in a wire but more often then not, end up simply installing a new wire. In most cases, it's less time consuming.

[BobCT]

Not an answer but I'm finding now that the factory wiring needs to be cut back a foot or more before you get back to clean copper. I've had to splice in new extensions In a couple of locations to make up the difference. I have yet to find an actual "bad" wire, the issue always seems to be within a few feet of either end.

Might be worth a close look if the copper you see is black and/or green. Also, make sure you're using the exact same connection point on the light just in case part of the ground is bad. You probably have the same Perko light I have with the threaded studs.

Bob

[yorklyn]

agree with bob.

[RWS]

problem solved !

found a bad wire adjacent to a splice I added in there ten years ago.

Apparently I must have nicked it with the wire cutters before applying the heat shrink and somehow simply did not see it.

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES !

RWS